The Gutter Prayer cover art

The Gutter Prayer

Book One of the Black Iron Legacy

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 'A ground-breaking and extraordinary novel . . . Hanrahan has an astonishing imagination' Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones

'Mind-blowingly stellar in every respect . . . Fantasy readers, be wise and buy this book, because there's simply nothing like it' Novel Notions

*****

The city of Guerdon stands eternal. A refuge from the war that rages beyond its borders. But in the ancient tunnels deep beneath its streets, a malevolent power has begun to stir.

The fate of the city rests in the hands of three thieves. They alone stand against the coming darkness. As conspiracies unfold and secrets are revealed, their friendship will be tested to the limit. If they fail, all will be lost and the streets of Guerdon will run with blood.

SET IN A WORLD OF DARK GODS AND DANGEROUS MAGIC, THE GUTTER PRAYER IS AN EPIC TALE OF SORCERERS AND THIEVES, TREACHERY AND REVENGE, FROM A REMARKABLE NEW VOICE IN FANTASY.

*****

'An absolutely stunning debut. Insanely inventive . . . I loved it!' Michael R. Fletcher, author of Beyond Redemption

'Utterly brilliant . . . Hanrahan is a total genius' Liz Loves Books

'Captivating . . . Guerdon is a city that seethes with history, horror and hidden secrets' Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

'Already one of my favourite books from 2019 . . . Put simply, you need to read this.' The Fantasy Inn

'I'm confident that I won't find a greater book this year' BookNest

'Compelling . . . rich with dark and original wonders' Anthony Ryan, author of Blood Song

'A gripping, darkly inventive tale' James Islington, author of The Shadow of What was Lost©2018 Gareth Hanrahan Epic Fantasy Historical Fiction Magic

Critic reviews

A ground breaking and extraordinary novel . . . Hanrahan has an astonishing imagination (Peter McLean, author of PRIEST OF BONES)
The Gutter Prayer is captivating and complex. Guerdon is a city that seethes with history, horror, and hidden secrets, and Hanrahan's assured style is reminiscent of China Mievelle in the best way possible (Nicholas Eames, author of KINGS OF THE WYLD)
An absolutely stunning debut. Insanely inventive and deeply twisted. I loved it! Highly recommended (Michael R. Fletcher, author of BEYOND REDEMPTION)
Utterly brilliant . . . Excellent, edgy, absorbing writing, an intelligently woven story that throws the unexpected at you with almost the turn of every page, I think Gareth Hanrahan is a total genius (LIZ LOVES BOOKS)
The perfect marriage of grimdark and epic fantasy . . . an impressive debut . . . Boldly ambitious and innovative in equal measure, Hanrahan's daring entry into the genre is guaranteed to captivate and enthral (BIBLIOSANCTUM)
Employing an enviable skill with both plotting and prose, Gareth Hanrahan has in The Gutter Prayer woven an intricate and finely crafted web of compelling characters navigating a city rich in dark and original wonders. I await the sequel with the keenest anticipation. (Anthony Ryan, author of BLOOD SONG)
Mind-blowingly stellar in every respect; full of seductive creativity, marvelously intelligent, innovative, and frankly revolutionary. This dark and enchanting debut contained no shortage of alluring madness and wondrous imagination that manifests itself gloriously within the pages. Fantasy readers, be wise and buy this book, because there's simply nothing like it . . . I envision that The Gutter Prayer will not only win many readers' hearts but also win multiple fantasy awards in the near future. Yes, it was THAT good. Read it. Thank me later (NOVEL NOTIONS)
A gripping tale that meshes beautifully with its fascinating, darkly inventive setting (James Islington, author of THE SHADOW OF WHAT WAS LOST)
With living candles, ancient ghouls, broken gods and more, The Gutter Prayer brims with cool and often twisted ideas (Peter Newman, author of THE VAGRANT)
Hanrahan's highly anticipated fantasy debut is a real breath of fresh air . . . The Gutter Prayer features a skilfully crafted world, with masterful drama, expert dialogue, brilliant characters and an ending I did not see coming . . . A book that every fantasy fan should read (FANTASY BOOK REVIEW)
I'm confident that I won't find a greater book this year . . . The Gutter Prayer is, undoubtedly, the debut of the year, and I won't be surprised to see it sweeping every award next year (BOOKNEST)
Beautifully written. Gripping. Guerdon is the city of my dreams (Anna Smith Spark, author of THE COURT OF BROKEN KNIVES)
All stars
Most relevant
This book is an incredible work of genre-defying literature, utterly gripping from start to finish!

A stunning work!

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This is a story mainly about a runaway, a drifter, Cari: Rat, a Ghoul and Spar, a Stone Man. Three people who chance has brought together and whose friendship will endure.

This book has many good reviews. However, I found it to be very slow and hard going. If it had not been for the good narration, I would probably not have finished it.

On the Slow Side

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A rare treat. a fantastic and fresh setting coupled with a breezy exciting plot. The plots moves at a breakneck pace yet never feels like it has been cut short. the characters are (in) believable and it's great to read a book where horrible and monstrous protagonists are explored in their full file detail. The setting is pleasingly drip-fed to the reader. Zero info dumps. it's only February but I feel this may well be a contender for my favourite book i read this year.

a gripping and grimy ride

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A fantastic opening book with hints of China Mieville and the Shadows of Esteren RPG but definitely finding its own voice and tone. Almost hallucinogenic in its description of magic, evocative of the unique visionary setting blending fantasy with an almost Edwardian feel, Gareth Hanrahan has a real winner here and I can't wait for the next one.

Excellent opening book

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Off to a good start and then something slipped towards the end of the book, it lost subtlety.

Different

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